Valve-control mechanism for power actuators



May 31 1927 c. S. BRAGG ET VALVE CONTROL mgcmmsm FOR rowan ACTUATOR? Original Filed April '5. 1925 Patented May 31, 1927.

1.630.327 UNITED STATES PATENT omen-.

CALEB s. BRAGG, or PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, AND VICTOR w.-xi.msaA'rn, or'roa'r WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'ro BRAGG-KLIESRATH CORPORATION, 01' I LONG IsLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or New YORK.

vALvn-coN'raoL macnANIsm r03. rowan ACTUATORS.

Original application filed A ril 8, 1925, as...

20,333. -Divided and this application .flled m 5,

1926. Serial No. 120,420.

Our invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the same, and

5 a slight modification thereof, selected by us for purposes of illustration, and the said invention' is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

This application is a division of our former application for Letters Patent of the 4 United States, filed -Apri1'3, 1925, and given Serial No. 20,333.

Our invention consistsin improved controlling valve mechanism for power actuators, and is es ecially adapted for use connection wit automotive vehicles in which the brakes may be applied by means of a ower actuator, operated either by suction om a suction passage of the engine, as

' from the intake manifold, or by pressure, as

by a connection from an engine cylinder.

According to our invention, ,a pivotedbrakelever is employed which is preferably opera-' tively connected with the piston of a power actuator, which in turn, is connected in any usual or desired manner, with the brake mechanism of the vehicle, and the brake lever is provided with a movable foot en'- gaging portion, or pedal, preferably having, a rocking motion with respect to the pedal lever, the valve mechanism for controlling the movements of the actuator being soconstructed and arranged with respect to the movablepedal, that themovement of the.

pedal with respect to the pedal lever, efiects the operation of the control valve mechanism for the actuaton When the pedal lever and pedal arein the ofi or at rest position,'the valve mechanism will be normally .40 maintained in such position that-the brakes.

are entirely off, and the piston of the actuator is in its retracted position. The move- T ment of the pedal with respect to the lever in one direction, by the foot of the ope a-- tor, will operate the yalve' mechanism so as to apply the brakemechanism, and we prefer to] rovi'de a retracting spring for the pedal or it to:-normal position. -We also prefer tosupport the pedal 'inits, normal or-ofi position, so that the enga ment of the operators foot with'the p 1 will tend to shift the pedal with respect to the lever and actuate the valve mechanism so as to apply-the brakes. The pedal lever is also preferably so supported that it will move downwardly and forwardly as the brakesare applied,-and thereby tend to rock the pedal in a reverse direction, if the operator does not change the position of his foot, that is to say, if he does notv continuously depress the toe of his foot more and more. the downwardmovement of the pedal so that if the operator desires tokeep during the pedal in aposition to continue the operation of the actuator, it will require a'conscious movement on his part to effect this result. "As-the pedal lever is'connected to the piston of the actuator,-it will move with r the actuator piston when the valve mecha-i msm has been operated by the relative movement of the pedal with respect to the lever.

It also follows from this constructionthat. the operator can add his physical power to p the power of the actuator, and that in case of failure of power, the operator can, by his own physical power, apply the brakesv in the usual manner, by depressing the pedallever,

the rocking of the pedal in such case servmg tofvent the actuator cylinder. I

lnstrate the invention,

Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic v1ew represent ing the application of our invention to-a' e system for automotive veh -1 vacuum bra Fig. 2 is an enlar ed detail view of the pedal lever and peda the actuator cylinder and piston, thevalve mechanismtherefor,

and electrical connections between the pedal and the valve mechanism for controlhngithe same. 1 I

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a slight In the accompanying drawings, whichlilmodification of the pedal illustrated, in

F a' 20: i v fieferring to the form of our invention;

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 401, represents the cylinder of a ower actuator provided iii this instance with a single acting piston,' indicatedat 402, having a piston.rod,'402,--

connected byja lmk 403, with the brake mechamsm' oigzthe vehicle, diagrammati fl15;

illustrated at which maybe of any.

or desired form, and is provided with re-" tracting means, which may be in the form the piston. In this instance we have shown the actuator adapted to be Operated by suction from a suction passage of the engine,

' electroqnagneticmeans.

from the carburetor, 8, between the throttle Valve, 9, and the cylinders, as the intake manifold, 6, of the internal combustion engine, 7, suitable controlling valve mechanism being interposed betwen the actuator cylinder, 401, and the manifold. In the form oi our invention which constitutes the subject -matter of this application, the control of the valvemechanism is effected by In these figures, 408, represents the pedal lever, pivoted at '409, and connected by link rod, 410, with a piston rod, 402, connected with the piston,

402, ofthe actuator. In this instance the cylinder, 401, is provided with a pipe orpassage, 417, for connecting it with the intake manifold, or other source of suction, said passage being controlled by a valve, The cylinder is also provided with a vent passage, 415, which is controlled by a we ma separate valve, 415*. .The suction valve, 417, is provided with an electro-magnetic device, 422, for'opening the same, said valve being normally held in closed position by a suitable spring, 423. The valve, 415, is normally held closed by 'a spring, 424, and is adapted to be opened by an electro-magnetic device, indicated at 425. -Any ,known or desired form of electric magnetic device may be employed for operating the valve,

and the particular form of. such electromagnetic device forms no part of our invention. For example, we may use ordinary electromagnets operating movable armatures, or

employ solenoids operating longitudina 1y movable cores,or any other form of electromagnetic device which may be de-' sirable.

: In this instance we have shown the pedal 5,) lever, 408, provided with a pedal, 418

pivoted at 419, and provided with a retracting spring, 421. The pedal is,in this instance, provided with contacts, 418 and 418*, for engaging, respectively, contacts, 426 and 427, insulated from each other I and the lever, and carried by a plate, 428, secured to the lever, 408. The contact, 427,. is shown as connected ba wire, 429, with the electromagnetic device, 422, for controlling the suction valve, 417, andthe contact, 426, is

shown as connected by wire, 430, with the electromagnetic device, 425,- for controlling the vent valve, 415. Said electromagnets, or-other electric devices, are connected by a wire, 431, with a batte 432, or other source of electric power, whic is in turnconnectcd with a ground,-as indicated, for example, to a portion of the chassis to which the edal lever, 408, is connected, so that the pe al isalso grounded at this connection with the pedal lever. The spring, 421, normally holds the pedal, 418, .in position with the contact, 418, in engagement with the contact, 426, closing the circuit through the electromagnetic device, 425, and tending to hold the vent valve in open position. In order to prevent the running down of the battery, or otherunnecessary use of electric current when the parts are at rest, we prefer to provide means for automatically breaking the circuit through the contact, 426, when the lever, 408, isin its normal or off position. For this purpose, we have shown, in

Fig. 2, a' cutout switch on the pedal lever,

comprising the fixed contacts, 433, insulated .froni lever 408 and a movable switch member, 434, normally held in closed position by a spring, a stationary adjustable stop, indicated at 435, being provided on the frame of the vehicle, in position to be engaged by the movable switch member, 434, as 'the pedal lever returns to its normal or off position, thus separating it from the contacts, 433,

and breaking the circuit through the electromagnetic device, 425. The pedal, 418, is so placed that when the operator places his foot upon it, as before stated, pressure of his foot will move the lever, 408, away from the stop, 435, thus restoring the contact switch member, 434, to its engagement with the contacts, 433, and tendin'gto shift the pedal in the direction of the arrow in Fig. '2, and bringing the contact, 418", into en'- gagement with the contact, 427, energizing the electromagnetic device, 422, and opening the suction valve, 417 The piston will immediately move forward in a direction to apply the brake mechanism. When the brakes have been applied.- sufliciently, the

operator, may, by rocking the pedal in the.

opposite direction from that indicated by the arrOW'inFig. 2, bringit into such a position that neither of the electric circuits are closed, thus permitting the suction valve,

417 and vent valve, 415, to remai'n closed under the action of their respective springs,

vice, 425, and the vent valve opened.v This.

permits air to enter the cylinder/to equalize pressures on opposite facesofth'e piston permitting the retraction of the v,fiiston and the relief of the brake mechanism, bythe load of. the brakes and the retracting vsprings therefor, as the spring 5, Fig. 1, and restoringthe pedal lever, .408, to its normal position-, at which time the cut out switch, 434,

engage the stop, 435, and break the chcuit through the electromagnetic devices controlling the vent valve, permitting it to seat under the action of its spring.

The cylinder is also provided with a safety valve, indicated at 440, normally held closed by a spring, but capable of opening to vent the cylinder in case the brakes are applied by the physical force of the operator in the event ofthe failure of the electric circuit to open the valves and vent the cylinder.

Instead of using the cut out switch illustrated in Fig. 2, we may provide the pedal with a stop rod, as illustrated in Fig.3, in which the pedal .is indicated at 518, provided with the contacts, 518 and 518",- and the pedal stop rod extending through an aperture in the floor board, as indicated at 518, the rod being provided with an adjustable nut, 518". The nut is adjusted so that when the pedal lever, 508, returns to normal or off position, the stop rod will raise the pedal in position to break the circuit through the'contact, 518*, thus accomplishing the same result that is accomplished by the circuit breaker shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the pedal lever is depressed, the pedal will be released from the restraint of the stop rod and either of the contacts, 518 or 518", can be brought into action.

connections between said When the operator places his foot on .the pedal, and automatically rocks it so as to bring the contacts, 418 and 427 (Fig. 2) or 518 and 527 (Fig; 3) into engagement, and opens the suction valve so as to apply the brake, the pedal lever, as will be seen, will move downwardly and forwardly under the action of the power actuator, and if the operator does not change the position of his foot, the pedal will be automatically rocked in a reverse direction, as the pedal lever descends, which would tend to break the 'circuit through the suction valve actuating mechanism and stop the further movement 'of the actuator piston. We prefer to arrange the pedal so that this result will follow, as it will then require a conscious and continued depression of the toe of the operator to keep the contacts, 418 and 427, together, and

will prevent the too sudden application of the brakes, which might result.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake mechanism, of a power actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and means for establishing differential pressures on opposite faces of the piston including controlling valve mechanism, and iston and the brake mechanism, a pivoted rake lever, op-

erative connections between said lever and the brake mechanism, a pedal pivotally connected with said lever and movable with respect thereto, and operative connect-ions between'the' pedal lever and said controlling valve mechanism, including eleetro-magnetic devices and controlling meanstherefor operated by the relative movement of the pedal with respect to the brake lever, whereby said brake mechanism can be. operated by the physical force of the operator, or by said actuator, or by both.

2. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake mechanism, of a power actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and means for establishing ditferei'itiah pressures on opposite faces of the piston in- I eluding controlling valve mechanism. and connections between said pistonand the brake mechanism, a plvote'd' brake lever, op-

(rative connections between said lever and means, under the control of the foot of the operator on said pedal.

3. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake mechanism, of a power actuator comprising a cylinder, a iston therein and means for establishing di erential pressures on opposite faces of the piston includpivotally connected with said lever, and movable with respect thereto, operative connections between said lever and the piston'of 'the actuator, electro-magnetic devices for operating said controlling valve mechanism, and electric connections for said elec'tro-magnetiedevices, including contacts on thepedal andcontacts on the pedal lever foroperating the valve mechanism by relative movement of the pedal with respect to the pedaLlever, whereby the operator may operate the'brake mechanism by his ph sical force alone, or by the actuator, or by both under the control ofhis' foot applied to said pedal.

4. In an automotive vehicle, the combinationwith brake mechanism, of a power actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston theremg controlling valve mechanism, and connections between said piston and the brake mechanism, a pivoted brake lever, a pedal in,- and means for establishing differential pressures onopposite faces of the piston including controlling valve mechanism. and

connections between said piston and the brake mechanism, a ivoted brake lever, op-

erative connections "etween said-lever andthe brake mechanism, a pedal pivotally connected with said lever, and movable -with respect thereto, and operative connections,

between the pedal lever and said controlling 60 and means for establishing difierential pressures on, opposite faces of the piston, includ valve mechanism including electro-magnetic "devices-and controlling means therefor op.- erated by the relative movement of the pedal with respect to the brake lever,-and yielding means normally holding the pedalin position with respect to the pedal-lever and said controlling .means'for said electro-magnetic devices, to allow the piston and brake mechanism to be returned to oii position.

'5. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake mechanism, a power actuator tro-magnetic devices, including contacts op eratively connected with the said pedal, and means for placing said electrlc'connections out of operative condition when the *pedal' lever is-in normal or oil. position.

6. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake mechanism, a power actuator comprising a cylinder, and a piston o-per: .atively connected with the brake mechanism,

.' means for establishing differential pressures on opposite faces of the piston, includmg controlling valve mechanism, of a-piv- 'oted pedal lever, operative connections between .the pedal lever and the brake mechanism, a pedal 'pivotallyconnected with said lever, operative connections between the pedal and said controlling valve mechanisrm operated by the relative movement of the pedal with respect to the pedal lever, including electro-magnetic devices for operating 1 said controlling valve mechanism, and electric connections for controlling said electro- 'magnetic devices, includin contacts operatively connected with the sald pedal, aspring for holding the" pedal in position to, close contacts operative to allow the return-of the piston and brake mechanism, to ofifposition, and means for placing said electric connections out of operative condition when the pedal lever is in normal osition.

7. In an automotive vehic e, the combination with brake mechanism, a power actuator comprising a c linder, and a piston operatively connecte with the brake mechanism,

ing controlling valve mechanism, of a pivoted pedal'levena pedal'movably connected with saidlever, electro magnetic devices for operating said controllin valve mechanism,"

and electric connections orcontrolling sai electro-magnetic devices, including contacts operatively connected with said pedal, operative connections between the pedal lever and said piston, yielding means for retracting said pedal, means for retracting the edal lever, a stop in the path of the pedal ever for arresting the lever in normal or oil? position, said stop and the pedal lever being provided, the one with a cut out switch for breaking said electrical connection to prevent the waste of electrical energy, and the other with a part for operating said switch. I

8. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with brake, mechanism, a power actuator comprising a cylinder, and apiston 'operatively connected With the brake mechanism, and meansfor establishin differential pressures on opposite .faces of the piston, including controlling valve mechanism, of.

a pivoted pedal lever, operative connect-ions between said lever and the brakemechanism, a pedal movably connected to said lever and provided with electric contacts, .coacting contacts carried by said lever, electro-magnetic devices for operating said controlling valve mechanism, electric circuits for said electro-' magnetic devices, including said contacts, a cut out switch for said circuits carried by said lever, and a stop in the path of the" said lever when it is returned to normal or 011' position for actuating the said out out;

switch.

19. In an automotive vehicle, thecombin-ation with brake mechanism, a power actuator comprising a' cylinder, and a piston operatively connected with'the brake mechanism,

and means for establishing diflerential-pressures on opposite faces of the piston, including controlling valve mechanism, of a pivoted pedal lever, a pedal movabl connected to said lever and provided with trio contacts, coating contacts carried by said lever, electro-magnetic devices for operating said controlling valve mechanism, elec-;

tric circuits for, said. electro-magnetic devices, including said contacts, operative con-' nections between the piston and the pedal lever for nabling the operator to apply the brakes'gbyiph si'cal'force, and a safet valve .for venting t e cylinder in case of failure of the e'lectro-magnetic'devices to properly con- Y t-rol said valve mechanism.

-- 10. In an automotive vehicle, the combina-' tion with brake mechanism, a powr actuator tive y connecte and means for establishing difiz'erential pressures on opposite facesof the piston, including controlling valve mechanism,- ofa pivoted pedal lever, a pedal movablv-con-f v comprising a c linder, and a piston operawith the brake'mechani'sm,

I said lever, electro magne-tic devices for operating said controlling valve mechanism, electric circuits for said electro-magnetic devices, includingsaid contacts, Operative connections between the, piston and the pedal lever for enabling the operatorto apply thebrakes by physical force, and a safety valve for venting the cylinder in case-of failure of the electro-magnetic devices to properly control said valve mechanism, and means for placing the circuits through both of the pedal contacts out of operative condition when the pedal lever and piston are in nor mal or ofi position.

11. In an automotive vehicle, provided with an internal combustion engine for propelling it, having a suction passage for ex-' plosive charges from the carburetor between I the throttle valve and the cylinders thereof,

and brake mechanism for the vehicle, the

combination of a power actuator comprising a cylinder and a piston therein, means for connecting said actuator with sald suction passage and with the atmosphereto establish differential pressures on opposite faces of the piston, including controlling valve mechanism, electro-magnetic devices for operatlng said valve mechanism, means for'connecting the actuator-piston with the brake mechanism of the vehicle, a-pivoted pedal lever, operatively connected withthe brake mechanism of the vehicle, a pedal mounted on said lever for o crating the same and movable relatively w1th respect to the lever, and velectric connections between the said pedal and said electro-magnetic' de- 'vices'o eralole by the relative movement of the pe al with respect to said lever.

12. In an automotive vehicle, provided with an internal combustion engine for pro-' pelling it, havinga suction passage for explosive charges from the carburetor between the throttlevvalve and the cylinders pjthereof and brake mechanisnrfor the vehicle, the combination of a power 3 actuator comprising a cylinder and a piston-therein, I means for connecting said actuator with said Y suction passage and with the atmosphere to es blish difierentialpressures on opposite .valve mechanism, e ectro-magnetic devices faces bf the piston including controlling forj'operating said valve mechanism, means for connecting the actuator 'piston with the brake mechanism, of the vehicle, a pivoted pedal lever, operatively connected with the brake mechanism of the vehicle, a pedal mounted on said lever for operating the same and movable relativelywith respect (to. the lever, and electric connections between the said pedal and said elect-ro-magnet-ic devices operableby the relative movement of the I pedal with respect to said lever, a retracting spring interposed between said pedal and said pedal lever.

-,13. In" an automotive vehicle, provided with an internal combustion engine for propelling it, having a suction passage for ex \plosive charges from the carburetor between the throttle valve and thecylinders thereof, and brake mechanism for the .ve-

hicle, the combination of a power actuator mounted on said lever for operating the:

same and movablerelatively with respect to the lever, electricconnections between the said pedal and saidelectro-magnetic devices operable by the relative movement of the pedal with respect to the lever, and means for maintaining said electric connections in inoperative condition when the pedal lever is in retracted'position; v

' In testimony whereof e ailix.,ou1' signatures.

CALEB S; BRAGG, v VICTOR W. KLIESRATH. 

